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Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
Crash Course

Kenzilla
Novice

Sep 16, 2005, 8:36 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1012 views)
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Crash Course	Can't Post

Hi all,

I'm going to my first shoot tomorrow. Normally I would shoot alot, look at it, make adjustments etc., etc., but there is an event tomorrow that I want to shoot so I'm going to give it a try. As previously stated it will be drag racing and the season is getting short, a friend will be competing and I wanted to get some vid for him.

I guess I could leave it in the "Easy" mode and shoot away but I wanted to run it by you guys to see if you have any tips for me. One thing I'm wondering about is using a smaller F-stop so when I zoom out as the car moves toward me there will be more depth of field and hopefully a sharper image. Also I'm wondering about the sound. Of course this will be very loud and I wondered if "auto" for sound would do the job. The event will go all day and into the night (going to be a "Night Of Fire event with jet cars and fireworks etc.) and the forecast for the daytime is sunny. So I'm wondering if the ND filter should be used. I've read the manual but as you know it's rather sparse, I guess a certain level of knowledge is assumed.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Also I want to make absolutely sure that there is no time/date showing in the finished product. I've read up on that and it appears you couldn't make this happen if you wanted to, the only adjustment is for this to show in the viewfinder or not, is this correct?

Thanks guys and wish me luck,

Ken

vidguyz
User

Sep 17, 2005, 2:16 AM

Post #2 of 3 (1005 views)
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Re: [Kenzilla] Crash Course [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good Luck !!!

It's getting late, my brain is fried from a very long day - but I did sell a commercial shoot early this morn ... so it was a fruitful day.

Bring lots of tape, lots of batteries or at least an inverter for your car and use it to charge your batteries as you go.

Don't worry about how good or bad this shoot is, but be smart and pre-prepare a logbook with 15 minute time increments on it. Log in what setting your camera is, ambient light and noise conditions, etc. and EXPERIMENT. Remember, this isn't the last NHRA event and if you screw up, chalk it up to experience.

I've found that speaking into the microphone about all my manual settings as a leader to the shoot helps when I edit it down. From this I'll know what works and what doesnt. Don't be afraid of manual settings, but remember to 'mike log' each change after you set it. Again, during edit down it will help you understand what works and what doesnt. The ND filter will help if you use a smaller aperature ... and also help you NOT to use GAIN. Remember, GAIN is GRAIN so try to avoid it and use the other tools as needed.

OK, that's it .. I've still got a post to write and am getting a bad case of the QWERTY's.

Oh, QWERTY's are when your so tired, your forehead hits the keyboard and impresses the keys on your forehead .. you wake up and see QWERTY UIOP on your forehead - not fun.

Good luck bud ... things will work out fine for you. Smile

Can't wait for you to post them on your website -and- if you don't have the bandwidth, contact me on my contact page of my site and I'll host it for ya on my samples page ... all credits to you!!!! (not a lifetime offer !!)

vidguyz

(This post was edited by vidguyz on Sep 17, 2005, 2:18 AM)

Kenzilla
Novice

Sep 17, 2005, 6:24 AM

Post #3 of 3 (998 views)
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Re: [vidguyz] Crash Course [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Bring lots of tape, lots of batteries or at least an inverter for your car and use it to charge your batteries as you go.

Check, check and check. These three things I have so at least I'm headed in the right direction.

As far as what happens after, I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I haven't even nailed down how to get the 1s and 0s from the cam to the computer. Been working alot at my day job since I got the camera and I thought it would be prudent to figure out how to shoot it, editing etc. will have to come later. (tomorrow)

Well I'm off, should be a good, long day (have to travel 3 hours to the track) and without a doubt I will learn something.

Thanks for the input and offer.

Ken